Vascular Medicine

The studies of diseases of the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic system will be explained to you by Prof. Joseph Alpert, an expert in teaching and preparing students for their internal medicine boards.

This course provides you with information on all relevant exam topics:

Basic diagnostic techniques

Arterial diseases

Aortic aneurysm

Aortic Dissection

Deep venous thrombosis

Peripheral arterial disease

Lymphedema

Use high-yield topic reviews, quizzes, clinical pearls and mnemonics to close knowledge gaps.

Our goal is to aid you in fully understanding a topic instead of memorizing its facts, so you can solve clinical USMLE Step 2 or NBME Shelf exam vignettes with ease.

Content

In today's world, smoking is very common, and it is considered as a status symbol. Use of different kinds of tobacco in cigarettes and cigars is becoming a fashion. But most people are unaware of how critical this is for the development of cancerous ulcers. Almost five out of every 10 patients of Buerger's syndrome are smokers. Buerger tried to find the root cause of this particular problem. Here are the facts and figures one should consider when smoking frequently.

Nowadays, the human race is becoming more sensitive to the changes in the environment. This sensitivity may result in triggering a number of diseases, including Raynaud’s disease, which constitutes a change in the vascular functions of the human body. Conferring to the facts and figures of Raynaud, every 5 out of 100 Americans suffer from this disease. On the other hand, merely 1 out of 5 would pursue treatment. Raynaud's phenomenon most often affects women, rather than men, exclusively in the ages from 20 to 40. Raynaud's phenomenon can occur on its own or in relation to other medical conditions such as rheumatic diseases. Read on for an extensive explanation of Raynaud’s disease.

Vascular malformation has received large attention in recent years due to the frequent occurance in newborns. Therefore, the clinical features are studied, along with other pathological subtypes, to manipulate the root cause of the disease that seems ordinary but has a great impact on the body.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a fatal clinical condition that occurs as a result of mechanical obstruction of the pulmonary artery or its branches by any material (such as thrombus, air or fat) from anywhere in the body. Pulmonary embolism can be an acute condition, in which the signs and symptoms develop immediately after the event (i.e., the obstruction of the pulmonary vessels), or it can be chronic, in which the signs and symptoms develop progressively for years. In this article, you will be able to understand the definition, incidence, pathophysiology, risk factors, symptoms and signs and the prognosis of pulmonary embolism.

In a healthy individual blood passes through the deep and superficial veins of the legs into the thighs and then the iliac veins to the inferior vena cava. The blood is pushed by the heart and also by skeletal muscle pumps as the leg muscles contract and relax. Retrograde motion is prevented by organic valves in the veins. As the valves weaken blood begins to pool in the legs and feet resulting in discoloration, vein engorgement, varicose veins, and edema.

Phlebothrombosis is a very common and very serious condition. Blood clots in veins can mobilize and cause significant harm and even death in some cases by blocking downstream vessels. This condition needs to be thought of in all new hospital admissions, especially those who will be particularly immobile or those undergoing operations, so they can be given medical prophylaxis to reduce the chance of a blood clot forming in the venous system.

Aortic dissection is a rare but serious medical condition. It can be suddenly fatal and needs to be detected early. 40% of people do not survive once the aorta dissects and therefore despite its rare nature, patients with related symptoms should be thoroughly investigated.

Abdominal Aortic aneurysm results from loss of strength and thinning of the aortic wall. It often implies the threat of rupture of aneurysm demanding of emergency interventions. Being asymptomatic, delayed discovery of AAA is a common phenomenon. The exact etiology of AAA is not known. Males develop AAA more commonly than females. The risk factors of AAA involves hyperlipidemia, hypertension, heart disease, smoking and family history. With the proper evolution of the case, elective surgical repair can be opted as definite cure.

Atherosclerosis is an incurable disease, but for which there are clearly defined risk factors that often can be reduced through a change in lifestyle and behavior of the patient. It is the most abundant primary disease of the arterial vascular system and is responsible for coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide.

With a prevalence of approximately 50 %, arterial hypertension is a very common disease. Blood pressure is a risk factor of secondary diseases such as stroke, CHD and cardiac insufficiency. Social connections as well as a relationship between hypertension, body weight and age are apparent. Many individuals with hypertension are not treated at all or receive insufficient therapy and, in many cases, are not aware they have the disease.

Peripheral artery disease, shortly referred to as PAD, is a condition caused due to atherosclerosis. Estimated to be affecting around 200 million people in 2010, the intermittent claudication is a medical entity of rising impact, which every prospective physician should master. The underlying atherosclerosis is not only the most common arterial vascular disease but also the pathologic substrate for many other common and often life-threatening diseases. These include strokes, heart attacks or aneurysms—comorbidities and risks, which can first manifest as PAD. This article´s purpose is to illustrate how PAD is diagnosed and treated as well as to provide exam-oriented information.

Clinical parameters have to be met for making the diagnosis of shock. However, differential diagnosis are also of great importance since without knowing the cause, this life-threatening condition can recur at any time.

The lymphoid organs, including thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and tonsils are part of the Lymphatic System. The lymphatic system serves a purpose in immune defense. Understanding this system is essential for the diagnosis of many pathological processes. This article deals with the structure, modes of action and a basic overview of the diseases of the lymphatic system.

Vascular diseases are any abnormal conditions that affect the circulatory system and are responsible for more mortality and morbidity than any other category of human disease. The spectrum of pathology encompasses congenital and acquired disorders that are arterial, venous, capillary or lymphatic in origin. Vascular disease can affect virtually any vessel in the body and present with different symptoms in different regions of the body. The most commonly involved areas include the heart, head, neck, and upper and lower extremities. Less commonly, vessels supplying the bowel may be involved leading to bowel infarction.

An aortic aneurysm is the abnormal widening of a part of the wall of the aortic artery leading to abnormal bulging out with or without a cause. An aortic aneurysm is a localized or diffused dilation of aortic artery usually more than 50% of its normal size. Aortic aneurysms can be classified into thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm with different clinical features, diagnostic criteria and management. If this bulging occurs continuously, it can result in the bursting of the artery and, eventually, haemorrhage, a condition termed as aortic dissection, which is considered a catastrophic fatal condition. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are generally caused due to infection, injury or atherosclerosis. Thoracic aortic aneurysms are caused due to injury, high blood pressure, and inherited tissue disorders.

Your Educators of course Vascular Medicine

Joseph Alpert, MD

Dr. Alpert is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine and Director of Coronary Care and Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at the University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine, Tucson, United States.

Before joining the UA, he worked at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester as Professor of Medicine, Director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Vice Chairman of Medicine. From 1992 – 2006 he was also Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the UA College of Medicine.

goo but not the best for eample phases of V/Q were in slides but teacher didnt eplain them and there was some ofusion reagding %age of PTE symptomatic

The best vascular lectures

By carlos m. on 02. April 2018 for Arterial Diseases

Excellent lectures that will help,pass the exam..easy to understand and to remember

Great lecture

By Neuer M. on 16. November 2017 for Varicose Veins: Diagnosis

Awesome Lecturing, great analysis and explanations.
it made it real easy to follow.

very clear and concise explanation

By Dael S. on 09. November 2017 for Vascular Malformations

very clear and concise explanation. Thank you Doctor Joseph Albert.

Very practical!!!

By James A. on 03. November 2017 for Arterial Diseases

It sounds great how he's explain everything.It was easy to understand.

concise lecture

By Napas W. on 22. March 2017 for Arterial Diseases

concise lecture. There is good concept in basic arterial disease.

Excellent source to study and preparation for USMLE

By Ashwani B. on 18. February 2017 for Arterial Diseases

The best way to learn in a medical field and the best sorce to gain a top position in the USMLE. Thanks lecturio

Not just for doctors or nurses

By Ryane C. on 06. February 2017 for Venous Diseases

I really like the vascular portion of this system. I find it helpful. I am studying for my RVT for ultrasound and this helps a lot. I hope there will be more information as far as physics and data interpretation for ultrasound. I think radiology field has a lot to know and not just pertaining to doctors or nurses.

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